Hardware Podcasts

STL339: The Woodshop is a Play Room

Shop Talk Live · 18 Apr 2025 · 1h 11m

What this episode covers

Robby Simon, a Black woodworker and designer from Atlanta, Georgia, shares his journey from a corporate career at Mailchimp to becoming a professional furniture maker. He discusses his apprenticeship with mentor Rebel Awaka, the influence of his WWII veteran grandfather, and how he integrates his cultural background into a unique design language. Simon explains his philosophy that woodworking is 'magic' rather than science, emphasizing accessibility and the importance of maker spaces for underrepresented communities.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Mailchimp
Also
Rebel Awaka, Kendrick Anderson, George Nakashima, Hans Wegner, Tori Sotas, Modern Builds, Chris Alimonis, Jonathan Katz-Moses, April Wilkerson, Diablo, Ryobi, Mass Collective, Yewtree, Tyler Perry, Soledad O'Brien

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